Windsorites join millions around the world marking Earth Hour

Lisa Patrick, a waitress at Chanoso's and Oishii restaurant in Windsor, Ont., places candles on tables as the restaurant turned out the lights for Earth Hour, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

The drive beside the Detroit River was a lot darker than usual Saturday evening, with Riverside Drive’s most prominent glittering nighttime lights switching off for Earth Hour.

The skyline-dominating GM Renaissance Center was one of the buildings that went dark from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. to raise awareness about energy sustainability and climate change on the Detroit side of the border. On this side of the river, Caesars Windsor shut off its big red sign and video screen, too.

Meanwhile, people across the city switched off their own household lights and broke out the candles and board games to mark the symbolic event that’s become a global phenomenon. Windsorites who took part joined millions of other conservationists around the world, from Jakarta, Indonesia to Vancouver, B.C.

Caesars Windsor spokeswoman Jhoan Baluyot said the casino has been turning off its big red beacon once a year since the start of Earth Hour six years ago to show its support for its aims. Caesars casinos also launched CodeGreen in 2011, setting a series of goals for reducing carbon emissions, water consumption and non-sustainable energy.

“It’s really a symbol,” she said. “It’s not just a one-hour thing once a year. It’s something we’re committed to year-round.”

Chanoso’s restaurant at Ouellette and University avenues turns off non-essential lighting and serves dinner by candlelight every year for Earth Hour. Owner Mat Mathias said the electricity-free dinner has become an annual tradition for some customers.

Chanoso’s also offered a raw menu that can be prepared without electricity in addition to its usual fare. Mathias said that posed an interesting challenge for his chef and kitchen staff.

The World Wildlife Fund, the driving force behind Earth Hour, says 13 million Canadians turned off their lights for an hour last year during the event. This year marked the seventh Earth Hour since the tradition began.

The City of Windsor joined in, officially endorsing the event and posting a list of ways residents can participate and conserve energy. EnWin Utilities spokeswoman Barbara Peirce Marshall estimated Windsorites saved about 8.5 megawatts of energy during last year’s Earth Hour, enough to power 2,000 homes for 60 minutes.

Steven Price, a conservation director with the World Wildlife Fund, says municipalities are a driving force behind Earth Hour.

“Now if we could get the provinces, territories and federal government more interested, we’ll be getting somewhere. And Earth Hour is meant to send a message, even if it’s, quote, a dark one, to them.”

With files from the Canadian Press

A long exposure shows a waitress carrying candles through Chanoso’s and Oishii as the Windsor restaurant turned out the lights for Earth Hour, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Cal Stagno, left, and Amanda Malkowski enjoy a dinner in the dark while at Chanoso’s and Oishii as the Windsor restaurant turned out the lights for Earth Hour, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

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I don’t know about impossible, but given that it’s taken almost 20 years to churn out five instalments of this series – something the early Bond franchise managed in six years, and the 1960s M:I TV show in just six weeks – these missions are certainly a lot of work